LEVI SEYMOUR.

The efforts of Levi Seymour, well known and successful farmer of Gilmore township, Isabella county, which have been practically unaided, a fact that renders him more worthy of the praise that is freely accorded him by his neighbors, have resulted in much good to himself and family and to the community in general, for his life has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance.

Mr. Seymour was born in Oswego county, New York, March 16, 186o, and he is the son of an excellent and highly honored couple, Elem and Harriet Seymour, the father a native of the state of New York. Besides Levi., their children were: Mary, who married G. A. Pitts, is living in Gilmore township , this county; Albert E. works in the state of Washington and is married to Chloie Temple; Adelmer is deceased.

Levi Seymour grew up- in Oswego county, New York, and attended school there. His father, who died when the son was two years of age, was a saw-mill man. Thus deprived of a father, Levi was early in life thrown upon his own resources and knew the meaning of hardships and hard work, being employed on farms and in the woods. He was seventeen years of age when he came to Michigan with his brother, Albert, having heard of the excellent prospects in this state for young men, but he had no thought of making it his permanent home. He first went to Muskegon, then to Far- well, but a few days later went into the woods and began work, engaging in this line of endeavor at frequent intervals for about sixteen years.    He arrived here without means, but he was economical and saved his money and in due course of time had a start. He purchased forty acres of land a half mile north of his present place in Gilmore township, Isabella county, two years after his arrival here, paying two hundred dollars for the same, having earned the money with which to pay for it by work in the woods. It was all first growth timber and there were no buildings on it. He set to work with a will and cleared about half of the forty acres and erected a small house which he later added to, making that his home until he came to his present place, which, although he has not lived here all the time, he has called his home.

Mr. Seymour was married, when twenty-one years of age, to Eva Robbins, daughter of P. H. and Isabelle Robbins, who was born in Nova Scotia in September, 1860. They were married on the farm where they now reside, her father having owned the place at that time.

Mr. Seymour was in the Northern Peninsula two and one-half years engaged in lumbering.  In igo8 he traded for forty acres west of his present place, subsequently purchasing the forty on which he now lives at sheriff's sale, later buying more land across the road, making in all one hundred and twenty acres. This constituted a very desirable farm in every particular and one of the best in the community.   His farm is nearly all cleared, and he has placed on it most excellent- improvements of every description. The former dwelling having burned, he replaced it with a substantial and attractive cement block house in 1909, Before which date he had lived in a rented house. He has also erected a large, substantial and convenient barn. He has a good cellar under his house, in fact, has everything about his place to make it attractive and desirable. When he took charge of this land it was far from being what it should have beer! in point of productiveness, but Mr. Seymour is a skilled agriculturist and be has built up the soil until it now produces abundant harvests of almost all kinds known in this latitude. To Mr. and Mrs. Seymour the following children have been born: Pearl, who married William Murphy, lives in Saginaw; Bessie married Herb. Glass and lives in Gilmore; Millard married Cora Robbins and lives in Minnesota; Ruth married George Pitts and lives in Gilmore; Lena, who is now thirteen years of age, is still a member of the family circle at home.

Politically, Mr. Seymour is not a party man, preferring to vote independently. He takes an abiding interest in whatever tends to advance the general good of his community and county.

 

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